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Push for armchairs in Louisiana state buildings came from Lafayette veteran

Project Armchair

A Lafayette veteran successfully pushed through legislation that would require at least five percent of chairs in most new and renovated state buildings to have arms on them. He also gives out decals, like the one above, to restaurants and other businesses that have chairs with arms available. (Image courtesy of Project Armchair)

Ray Green has a hard time getting up out his seat by himself. The 80-year-old is a disabled veteran who can't fully bend and straighten one of his knees. He needs the help of armrests to be able to hoist himself out of most chairs.

Except Green, who lives in Lafayette, says there are fewer and fewer chairs with arms in public places. At doctors offices and in restaurants, he has had to ask complete strangers to help him get up out of his seat because of armless chairs.

When eating at the Gold Corral with friends recently, Green tried to use a table to get out of a chair without arms and ended up spilling two glasses of water and some food. The incident spurred him to do something about the problem.

Green started Project Armchair, which is behind a heretofore curious new law that requires at least five percent of chairs in most new and renovated state buildings to have arms.

The Louisiana Legislature passed the armchair bill during its spring lawmaking session and Gov. Bobby Jindal signed it into law earlier this month. But several people questioned why such a bill -- over which there was little discussion -- was necessary.

"He is extremely passionate about this subject," said Lafayette Rep. Stuart Bishop, who sponsored the legislation for Green. "He wanted to mandate that businesses have [chairs with arms]. I told him I couldn't do that, but I thought I could do something about state buildings."

Bishop's bill is probably Project Armchair's biggest win so far, but Green has had success in other areas too. Lafayette Parish has said it is willing to add more chairs with arms to its recreational facilities, said Green. A few local Lafayette restaurants have also said they will add armchairs.

Project Armchair has a website and dispenses decals to restaurants and other businesses who have chairs with arms available. The stickers read: "Friendly seating available inside: Chairs with arms for seniors, handicapped and disabled veterans."

Green's ultimate goal is to get language added into the federal Americans with Disabilities Act that would require places like restaurants, meeting rooms and waiting areas to have some chairs with arms available. He said he has reached out to U.S. Sen. David Vitter's office about the issue.

On top of passing the state building armchair law, the Louisiana Legislature also passed a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to consider Project Armchair's proposal. They said the need for chairs with arms will probably only grow, as the United States population grows older and more military veterans return home from overseas.

"By setting a precedent in Louisiana, we might encourage an act of Congress," said Green.